Pulling grips pull cables, insulated conductors, ropes, and wires through enclosures, conduits, or rough areas. These grips help install or repair cables or wires in overhead and underground applications. They support all types of cylindrical objects matching the grip size as well as load carrying capacity. Support grips protect wires and cables from damage by distributing their weight over the full span of the grip. These grips are suitable for individual or bundles of cables and are reusable.

Installation or removal of cables and other connectors in overhead, underground, or through-conduit applications requires precise positioning and movement. This ensures accurate placement of connectors and provides safety for personnel in hazardous conditions. Pulling and support grips provide an efficient approach in executing these functions.

These products feature multiple designs depending on their application. Their use is common in industries such as power generation, electrical wiring, offshore drilling, and building construction and maintenance. The grips are made of numerous materials including galvanized steel, stainless steel, and plastic or synthetic Kevlar composites.

Types of Pulling and Support Grips

Pulling and support grips present an assortment of types and styles to serve a multitude of purposes. Characteristics used to define the grips include size, strength, defining features, and added functionalities.

Junior-duty grips: Used by electricians performing small routine jobs. They connect pulling tape and clusters of insulated wire. They are also effective in pulling wire or rope through a conduit.

Light-duty grips: Suitable for wiring, re-wiring, and light pulling of electrical connectors in industrial and underground applications.

Medium-duty grips: Effective in overhead and underground pulling tasks relying on added durability and strength given their double-weave design.

Heavy-duty grips: Appropriate for more strenuous pulling tasks such as underground cable and service line installation. Several are made of galvanized steel for improved robustness.

High strength grips: Ideal for heavy-duty pulling applications that require super grip strength. These items are used to connect conductors to pulling lines, running boards, or additional conductors.

Strain relief grips: Effective in connecting enclosures and industrial equipment to cables. These grips are designed to avoid cable pullout at the connection/termination point due to tension, vibration or motion. They are fixed along with bus drop support grips and safety springs to form a comprehensive cord support system.

Non-metallic grips: Designed for water (offshore), fiber optics, and electrical applications.

Specialty grips: Necessary for specialist applications such as offshore drilling or wind turbines, including customized pulling grips made to order.

Single eye grips: Used for pulling individual or multiple cables or wires having a light to medium loads.

Double eye grips: Used for medium and light loads. As pulled wires or cables pass through the grip, double eye grips allow for the support of more than one cable or wire at a time.

Lace up grips: This grip is used for light to medium loads and binds to the object through stitching. Lace ups are employed in situations where it is difficult to fit a traditional support grip to the end of a wire or cable.

Offset eye grips: Comparable to single eye grips in terms of load capacity. These solutions are used when an offset position is incorporated, and the cable or wire runs all the way through the grip.

Open ended grips: Suitable for linking two cables or wires resulting in a continuous loop. A standard application includes cable replacement performed by attaching an old cable to a new one.

Fiber optic grips: Used to handle the installation of telecommunication lines such as fiber optics. They are excellent for underground or overhead installation and repair.

Multi weave grips: Includes a flexible eye that is attachable to a swivel. The eye rotates relieving torque caused by pulling when tension adjustments are made. These grips are good for distribution work and overhead transmission. The weave design promotes handling of heavy loads.

Revolving eye grips: Designed for easy linkage with swivels or shackles.

Splicing multi weave grips: Temporarily splices the conductor and wire ropes or cables.

Rod closing grips: Possesses lower gripping power and installs more quickly and easily. The rods are kept from touching the cable or wire at any point thereby preventing cuts.

Bus drop grips: Provides support for cords or cables linked to the bus duct. Used indoors, they absorb vibration and decrease tension in the cable or cord.

Applications

Pulling and support grips have applications in a wide range of industries. These applications include:

• Electrical contractors
• Facility maintenance
• Utility companies
• Wind turbine operation
• Off-shore drilling
• Construction
• Automotive
• Securing hydraulic hoses
• Telecommunications facilities and infrastructure
• Machine tooling
• Industrial plant wiring and rewiring

Selecting Pulling and Support Grips

When selecting pulling and support grips, consider evaluating multiple product styles, shapes, and sizes offered by the manufacturer. Non-metallic grips are ideal for applications where electrical wires or water are present. Check the size and load capacity of the connector to determine whether it fits the requirement. With specialist applications, identify relevant item features and functionalities required for safe and effective operation. Use the manufacturer specifications to align the grip's capabilities with the intended function.

Standards

MS 90382 - Cable grips for rescue applications

SAA AS 2076 - Wire rope grips for non-lifting applications

MS 90561 - Grips, cable, woven, strain relief, axial

References

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Digi-Key Electronics | Automationdirect.com